Dear So and So

[Veronica]

Wow Mimi! What a bummer about your sister. Family is ... well family. I can't imagine having a tremendous rift with any of my siblings, even my redneck brother.

I cherish my sisters and at least one of my brothers and our relationships. My oldest sister, Valerie was diagnosed with tongue cancer in late March. Instead of coming to visit me over spring break, she had part of her tongue removed. When they biopsied her lymph nodes they found cancer in some of them so she is now undergoing chemo and radiation treatments. She's on her third week of 7 or maybe it's 8 weeks of treatment.

We've all rallied around her, my two other sisters and my two brothers, even Mr. Redneck. And the thing is... it would be that way for any one of us. When I showed up at a family reunion covered with bruises my brother threatened to kick my husband's a$$. I had to explain how I'd gotten each and every bruise from mountain biking.

Reading your letter to your sister just reminded me how lucky I am. Now which one am I gonna call...

V.